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Quick Homemade Hot and Sour Soup Recipe (Better Than Takeout)

A close-up of a steaming bowl of rich, dark hot and sour soup recipe garnished with fresh green onions.
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Make this classic hot and sour soup at home fast. This easy recipe balances tangy vinegar and spicy heat with tofu, mushrooms, and a savory broth. It tastes better than takeout and is ready in under 30 minutes.

Ingredients

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  • 6 cups Chicken or Vegetable Broth
  • 1/2 cup dried wood ear mushrooms, soaked and sliced
  • 1/2 cup dried shiitake mushrooms, soaked and sliced
  • 1/2 cup firm or extra-firm tofu, cubed
  • 1/4 cup bamboo shoots, sliced
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce (for color)
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon ground white pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon chili garlic sauce (or more, to taste)
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 3 tablespoons cold water (slurry)
  • 2 scallions, thinly sliced for garnish
  • Optional: 1/2 cup shredded cooked chicken or pork

Instructions

  1. Prepare the dried mushrooms by soaking them in hot water for 20 minutes until soft. Squeeze out excess water and slice them thinly.
  2. In a large pot, bring the broth to a boil over medium-high heat.
  3. Add the sliced mushrooms, tofu, bamboo shoots, and optional meat to the boiling broth. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
  4. Stir in the soy sauce, dark soy sauce, rice vinegar, white vinegar, white pepper, black pepper, and chili garlic sauce. Taste the broth and adjust seasoning for the right balance of hot and sour.
  5. Pour the cornstarch slurry slowly into the simmering soup while stirring constantly until the soup thickens slightly.
  6. Slowly drizzle the beaten eggs into the soup in a thin stream while stirring gently to create ribbons. Cook for one minute.
  7. Stir in the sesame oil. Do not boil after adding the sesame oil.
  8. Ladle the hot and sour soup into bowls. Garnish with sliced scallions. This soup is a great alternative to using meal planning services for a quick dinner.

Notes

  • For a vegetarian version, use vegetable broth and omit the chicken or pork. This recipe works well with a keto meal plan focus if you skip the cornstarch slurry and use a different thickener, or omit thickening entirely.
  • To increase the tanginess, add a few extra drops of white vinegar just before serving.
  • For extra heat, add more chili garlic sauce or a dash of white pepper.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cutcooktaste.com/hot-and-sour-soup-recipe/